Golf Carts for Tawaf and Sa'i at the Grand Mosque of Makkah: Booking Steps, Routes, and Prices
The General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque of Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque offers the golf cart service for Tawaf and Sa'i for elderly pilgrims, patients, and persons with disabilities via dedicated routes on the rooftop and the mezzanine floor, at a cost ranging between 25 and 100 SAR depending on the type of trip and the booking details. Early booking protects you from the crowds. Through the "Nusuk" app or the "Tanaqqol" platform, you secure your seat directly and skip the on-site payment queues, which is a decisive matter during peak seasons such as Ramadan and Friday nights.
Types of Mosque Carts: The Difference Between Golf Carts and Alternative Carts
Many Umrah pilgrims confuse the three options available at the Grand Mosque of Makkah, and choosing wrongly wastes your time and physical energy unnecessarily.
Golf carts are collective electric vehicles. They seat approximately 6 to 10 passengers and are driven by an official driver certified by the Authority, so you exert no physical effort while they move along routes completely isolated from pedestrians to ensure safety and speed. These carts suit elderly pilgrims and anyone unable to propel their cart by hand who wishes to complete Tawaf and Sa'i with comfort and ease.
The first alternative is the individual electric scooter. One or two seats that the pilgrim drives personally on the mezzanine floor, provided they are able to control the brakes and the handlebars throughout the circuits. The second alternative is the manual cart, which comes in two forms: free green carts that you push yourself to serve your relative, or carts pushed by official pushers in uniform at a fare approved by the administration of the Grand Mosque of Makkah.
Golf Cart Routes for Tawaf and Sa'i and Designated Departure Points
Cart movement is fully separated. Golf cart routes never meet pedestrians in the Mataf courtyard or the ground-floor corridors at all; rather, the Mosque administration has reserved upper floors surrounded by safety barriers to ensure smooth movement around the clock without accidents.
The Rooftop Tawaf Route and Designated Cart Entrances
The golf route circles the entire perimeter of the rooftop, revealing the Holy Kaaba in an open space with excellent natural ventilation. The rooftop's shortcoming is the heat of the sun at midday. It is therefore preferable to perform Tawaf there in the early morning or after the Maghrib prayer to ensure a temperate atmosphere.
To reach the rooftop departure station without passing through the bottlenecks of the lower floors, use these direct on-site access points:
- Ajyad bridge: The fastest entrance for those arriving from the direction of the King Abdulaziz Waqf and the Clock Towers, as it takes you up gradually to the rooftop.
- The Shubeikah escalators: Located in the western courtyards, they take you directly to the upper station near the King Fahd expansion.
- The King Abdulaziz Gate elevators: A group of elevators dedicated to serving persons with special needs, taking you directly to the upper floor and the golf cart station.
The Sa'i Route and Meeting Points Between Safa and Marwah
The mezzanine floor of the Mas'a is entirely dedicated to electric carts between Safa and Marwah. The route is fully air-conditioned and free of pedestrians, with sturdy glass and metal partitions separating the outbound and return lanes to prevent any intermingling.
When you finish your rooftop Tawaf, the organizers direct you toward a direct ramp that takes you down to the Mas'a mezzanine floor on the Safa side, with no need to descend to the crowded floors or exit to the courtyards. Your journey ends at Marwah, where you find before you an exit station equipped with elevators and escalators that take you straight to the external courtyards next to the Makkah Library and the King Abdullah expansion.
Steps to Book Golf Carts via the Tanaqqol Platform and the Nusuk App
Digital booking guarantees your right. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah integrated the booking service into the "Nusuk" app so that it links automatically with the "Tanaqqol" system.
- Open the "Nusuk" app and sign in using national ID data for citizens and residents, or the passport number for visitors and international Umrah pilgrims.
- Go to the "Grand Mosque Services" tab, then choose "Cart Booking (Tanaqqol)".
- Specify the exact service type required: Tawaf only, Sa'i only, or Tawaf and Sa'i together.
- Choose the cart type: select "Golf cart seat" if you are an individual, or "Full cart" if you are a family wishing for a private vehicle with a driver.
- Select the date and time period that match the Umrah permit issued to you in advance.
- Enter the beneficiary's data (name and ID number), then proceed to the payment page.
- Pay via the approved bank cards (mada, Apple Pay, Visa, Mastercard), and the app will issue you a quick response code (QR Code) immediately. Keep a copy of the code on your phone screen to show it to the supervisor at the entry point.
Golf Cart Booking Prices for Tawaf and Sa'i and Payment Methods
Prices are subject to the regulations of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque of Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque and include value-added tax. The cost details are shown below:
| Service Type | Booking Type | Approximate Price (SAR) | Trip Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tawaf only (Rooftop) | Individual seat | 25 | 7 circuits accompanied by other passengers and an official driver |
| Sa'i only (Mezzanine) | Individual seat | 25 | 7 circuits between Safa and Marwah |
| Full Umrah (Tawaf and Sa'i) | Individual seat | 50 | Includes the on-site transfer between the two routes |
| Full private golf cart | Private booking (up to 6 passengers) | 150 - 200 | A dedicated driver for the family for the entire Umrah rituals |
Electronic payment via the "Nusuk" app accepts "mada" cards, credit cards, and "Apple Pay". Payment points are available at the entrances for those unable to book in advance, and they rely on electronic payment devices; cash is not preferred inside the stations and is often refused in order to speed up the waiting queues.
Cancellation and Refund Conditions and Safety Regulations
Cancelling the booking is possible. You recover all your money via the app provided that the cancellation request is made at least two hours before the appointment; however, if the booking time has begun or you are late in attending, the right to a refund lapses because the seat is considered reserved in a way that makes it impossible to direct it to another beneficiary.
The golf cart journey is subject to mandatory safety regulations with which the field supervisors do not compromise:
- Travel bags: Bringing any large or medium-sized travel bags on board the cart is strictly prohibited. Only small hand bags and essential medication bags are permitted.
- Children: Children are not allowed to sit on the edges of the cart, and the child must sit between two adult companions; drawn baby strollers are also not allowed to enter the golf cart route in order to avoid obstructing it.
- Disembarking during the route: You may not get off the cart before completing the seven circuits except in medical emergency cases, in coordination with the driver and the supervisors.
Check your permit on "Nusuk" before leaving your hotel, and head to "King Abdulaziz Gate" or "Ajyad bridge" half an hour before your appointment so you can take your seat without confusion.
